First night inferno: a silhouette in billowing flames during the early hours at the Tyre King recycling yard, Feb. 12, 1990. Paul Hourigan, Hamilton Spectator

The Hagersville tire fire started in the early morning hours of Feb. 12, 1990 as a lark by five Ohsweken-area teens. It consumed 14 million tires, spewed toxic smoke for 17 days, drove 4,000 from their homes and cost the province more than $10 million for a year-long clean up. It remains the worst environmental disaster in Ontario history.